Why it’s important to avoid aspartame.
Freshening the palate with a satisfying piece of low sugar gum that doesn’t contain artificial sweeteners can be challenging.
Many products including chewing gums contain the artificial sweetener aspartame which has been linked to childhood and adult obesity, metabolic syndrome, increased risk of diabetes, psychological disorders, digestive problems and related illnesses, and neurological disorders among others.¹
It’s best to limit or avoid aspartame as much as possible.
There are healthier gums available.
The sweetness of my favorite gum comes from xylitol, a natural sugar alcohol found in fruits and vegetables.
Here’s why I like sugar alcohols. They have less calories, produce lower increases in blood sugar than natural sugars (cane etc.), are chemical free, and don’t interact with dental plaque to cause cavities.² That’s all good news.
For more xylitol related information click on this link for an article by Kris Gunnars from Healthline.
Product Details and Pricing.
Pur Gum is an aspartame free product from a Canadian based company. It’s vegan, non-GMO (free of genetically modified ingredients), and soy, gluten, nut, and peanut free. It lives up to its name.
This gum is available in cool mint, peppermint, spearmint, wintergreen, pomegranate mint, chocolate mint, cinnamon, and bubblegum. The company also offers refreshing spearmint, peppermint, and tangerine flavored mints.
For additional product details, if interested, visit the Pur Company’s website.
Pur Gum Product Review
I don’t chew gum all the time, but when I do this product always delivers. The cool mint’s flavor is too mild for me. I prefer the wintergreen and find it especially cooling. The spearmint, peppermint, and cinnamon also deliver a lot of flavor. If you like heat, the cinnamon generates a good amount.
I discovered that some of the gums have a softer chew than others. The softer gums seem to be the wintergreen and spearmint with the peppermint, cinnamon, and bubble gum flavors being a more rigorous chew.
I can’t comment on the chocolate or pomegranate mint flavors because I haven’t tried them.
Where to purchase and cost.
This gum is packaged in small travel packs or resealable small bags of 55 small square shaped pieces. If you prefer stick gum, a peppermint or spearmint 12 stick pack is available.
Prices and selections vary from $2-$6. I haven’t tried the stick gum as I prefer the pieces. Pur gum can be purchased at Home Goods (varies), TJ Max (varies), health food stores, and on-line.
Spry Gum by Xlear is another good xylitol based product.
Spry, from the makers of Xlear, is another popular xylitol based gum product. It does contain soy lecithin so this may be a concern for those with soy allergies or sensitivities.
I like this product but prefer the texture and flavor of the Pur brand. Spry does make a really nice xylitol based mint that is satisfying.
It was refreshing for me to find a healthier gum option for occasional use. I accidentally stumbled upon Pur Gum years ago and glad I did.
Just a quick reminder, if you have underlying dental conditions or jaw related issues, you may want to limit or avoid gum altogether. It can cause additional problems.
It’s also important to note that if overused, xylitol gums and mints may have a mild laxative effect that is easily remedied by using less often. That’s good to pass on. Pun intended.
Click here for more of my product reviews, if interested.
I hope this information was helpful. Please share, link, and pass the word to others. If you have questions, suggestions, or comments, please reach out. I would love to hear from you.
Until next time, wishing you continued health and wellness.
Kimberly I
Updated December 2023 by Kimberly Iacoponi
Note: Any product mentioned is something I have used myself and benefitted from. I don’t receive revenue for any product recommendations or reviews, but if this changes, it will be noted.
The information provided is for educational and reference purposes only. It is not approved or intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease or illness, suggest a specific treatment, or to be used as the replacement for or substitution of treatment by a qualified medical professional.
Sources
- Malkin, S. (2020, November 15). Aspartame: Decades of Science Point to Serious Health Risks. U.S. Right To Know. https://usrtk.org/sweeteners/aspartame_health_risks/
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2020, March). FDA. Interactive Nutrition Facts Label, Sugar Alcohols 1 and 2. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/interactivenutritionfactslabel/assets/InteractiveNFL_SugarAlcohols_March2020.pd
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